Tim Stevenshttp://wesa.fm
enEssential Pittsburgh: Re-Drafting 'You and The Police'http://wesa.fm/post/essential-pittsburgh-re-drafting-you-and-police
<div><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The original version of the pamphlet titled "You and The Police" has been around since the&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">mid-1990s</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">, published after Jonny&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Gammage's</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;death during a traffic stop. Now, the Pittsburgh police bureau has collaborated with the</span><a href="http://www.b-pep.net/" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">&nbsp;Black Political Empowerment Project</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">, the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.aclupa.org/" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">American Civil Liberties Union</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;and the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://cprbpgh.org/" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Citizen Police Review Board</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;on an updated version of the brochure, which they hope will be distributed in public schools and churches across the city. The handout offers tips on how to handle interactions with the police at traffic stops, within a private home and during an arrest. B-PEP Founder Tim Stevens, ACLU Legal Director Vic&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Walczak</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">, and Executive Director of the&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">CPRB</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;Beth&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Pittinger</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;explain the new information and why the city believes the pamphlet's re-introduction is necessary.&nbsp;</span></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Walczak&nbsp;cautioned that, though he thought the brochure is helpful and would minimize negative police interactions, it wouldn't completely solve the problem.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><blockquote>"There's no silver bullet. No matter how good the brochure is and how wide a distribution you put out, it's not a guarantee that everything is going to be hunky dory. You're going to have misunderstandings. Some employees, like in any business, are not going to follow the rules or do the right thing." Vic Walczak</blockquote><div><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Also today, Joe Wos presents the story of the "world's greatest liar" (a Pittsburgh-er, of course) in honor of April Fool's Day.</span><strong style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;</strong></div><div></div><p>Wed, 01 Apr 2015 06:00:00 +0000Essential Pittsburgh45702 at http://wesa.fmEssential Pittsburgh: Re-Drafting 'You and The Police'Brochure Outlines Ways to Reduce Negative Police/Citizen Confrontations http://wesa.fm/post/brochure-outlines-ways-reduce-negative-policecitizen-confrontations
<p>In the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown and, more recently the shooting of two police officers in Ferguson, Mo., a brochure is going out to the Pittsburgh community outlining rights, responsibilities and realities of police encounters.</p><p>“For instance, you have the right to curse at a police officer, but it’s not a good idea in most cases to do that,” said Tim Stevens, president and founder of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), “so we’re talking about what your rights are, what your responsibilities are as a citizen and what the reality is.”</p>Mon, 16 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000Deanna Garcia44784 at http://wesa.fmBlack Political Empowerment Project Wants August Wilson Center To Go To Foundationshttp://wesa.fm/post/black-political-empowerment-project-wants-august-wilson-center-go-foundations
<p>Facing more than $9 million in debt, a possible foreclosure and two proposals for solutions, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture’s fate rests in the hands of the legal system, and the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) is urging that the center be left for it's original purposes. &nbsp;</p><p>On Sept. 29 a trial will determine if the AWC has to uphold covenants&nbsp;that were set in place to protect the center when it was built just five years ago.</p>Mon, 22 Sep 2014 22:10:17 +0000Jess Lasky36195 at http://wesa.fmBlack Political Empowerment Project Wants August Wilson Center To Go To FoundationsResidents Voice Concerns About Police Misconduct, Racial Profilinghttp://wesa.fm/post/residents-voice-concerns-about-police-misconduct-racial-profiling
<p>Pittsburgh residents brought their concerns about police misconduct to City Council Tuesday during an open forum.</p><p>Concerned citizens brought up many issues, including a lack of diversity on the police force, racial profiling and overly aggressive policing in communities with high crime rates.</p><p>Rashad Byrdsong, president and CEO of the <a href="http://www.ceapittsburgh.org/">Homewood Community Empowerment Association</a>, said law-abiding citizens of his community are stuck in a difficult situation.</p>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 01:21:01 +0000Liz Reid16702 at http://wesa.fmComemmorating the March on Washingtonhttp://wesa.fm/post/comemmorating-march-washington
<p>Nelson Harrison is a Pittsburgh musician who teaches jazz and played with numerous groups including the Count Basie Orchestra. He was at the March on Washington in 1963 and talks about how the march shaped who he is today. Mon, 26 Aug 2013 21:47:37 +0000Marcus Charleston15489 at http://wesa.fmComemmorating the March on WashingtonImpact of the Supreme Court Voting Right's Act Decisionhttp://wesa.fm/post/impact-supreme-court-voting-rights-act-decision
<p>Last week's 5-4 Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act struck down a key aspect that has been used to promote and protect the political power of minority voters. This has not gone over well with many activists and civic organizations.&nbsp;</p><p>Among the concerned groups is Pittsburgh's <a href="http://www.b-pep.net/">Black Political Empowerment Project </a>(B-PEP), who held a press conference yesterday to voice their disappointment with the court's decision.</p><p>Today, B-PEP Chairman <strong>Tim Stevens</strong> discussed the far reaching implications for voting rights.Tue, 02 Jul 2013 20:14:50 +0000John Lavanga12456 at http://wesa.fmImpact of the Supreme Court Voting Right's Act DecisionCity Council Holds Public Hearing on Ideal Qualities of Next Police Chiefhttp://wesa.fm/post/city-council-holds-public-hearing-ideal-qualities-next-police-chief
<div class="field-item even"><p>Pittsburgh City Council will hold a post-agenda meeting and public hearing Wednesday, March 6 to discuss what qualities should be sought in the next Pittsburgh Chief of&nbsp;Police.</p><p>The hearing was arranged at the request of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) in conjunction with several supporting organizations to address relations between the community and the police, said Tim Stevens, chairman and CEO of B-PEP.&nbsp;</p>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:00:00 +0000Mark Nootbaar2153 at http://wesa.fm